USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1956-1962 > Part 34
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ARTICLE 23. Voted that the sum of $1,000.00 be raised and ap- propriated for the Care of the Whitney Playground.
ARTICLE 24. Voted that the sum of $1,000.00 be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of Hot Topping the Tennis Court and re- pairing the surrounding fence and grounds at the Whitney Playground,
said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Select- men .
ARTICLE 25. Voted that the sum of $200.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Tax Posses- sion Sale Committee.
ARTICLE 26. Voted that the sum of $500.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of repairing and maintaining existing Public Sidewalks, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 27. Voted that the sum of $4,839.99 be raised and ap- propriated for the purpose of paying to the Treasurer of Middlesex County Retirement System the amounts allocated to the Town of Westford by the County Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of Chap- ter 32 of the General Laws, as amended.
ARTICLE 28. Voted that the Town accept a gift made to it during the year 1958 by the Isabel F. Hyams Fund, Inc., formerly known as the Solomon Hyams Fund, Inc., and that the Town Clerk be authorized and directed to extend to said Corporation the appreciation of the Town for said gift.
ARTICLE 29. Voted that the Town accept the gift of a sword and pistol made to it under the will of the late Edward M. Abbot, said items to be placed in the custody of the Trustees of the J. V. Fletcher Library and that the Town Clerk be authorized and directed to extend to the widow and family of the late Mr. Abbot the apprecia- tion of the Town for said gift.
ARTICLE 30. Voted that the sum of $75.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of promoting the work of the Westford 4-H Clubs, said amount to be expended with the approval of the Westford
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4-H Advisory Council.
ARTICLE 31. Voted that the sum of $1,000.00 be raised and appro- priated to be expended by and under the supervision of the Recreation Commission.
ARTICLE 32. Voted that the sum of $200.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Development and Industrial Commission.
ARTICLE 33. Voted that the sum of $700.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Dog Officer.
ARTICLE 34. Voted that the sum of $300.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of providing suitable quarters for the Nabnas- set American Legion Post No. 437 and the Auxiliary of said Post; that the further sum of $300.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of providing suitable quarters for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6539 and the Auxiliary of said Post; and that the further sum of $300.00 be raised and appropriated for the purpose of providing suit- able quarters for the Frederick S. Healy American Legion Post No. 159 and the Auxiliary of said Post, all for the calendar year 1959.
ARTICLE 35. Voted that the sum of $4,775.31 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of paying to the Treasurer of the Nashoba Asso- ciated Boards of Health the amount certified by said Boards as the Town's share of the cost and expenses of the District for the year 1959
ARTICLE 36. Voted that the sum of $100.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purposes of Civil Defense.
ARTICLE 37. Voted that the sum of $325.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of defraying the expenses of painting and dec- orating various portions of the interior of the Town Hall, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 38. Voted that the sum of $2,000.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of altering, enlarging, repairing and renovat- ing the office of the Board of Assessors and for defraying any inci- dental or necessary expenses in connection therewith, including plans, drawings, estimates etc., and for the purpose of purchasing various furniture, furnishings and equipment for said office, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 39. Voted that the sum of $90.00 be raised and appropri- ated for the purpose of purchasing Light Fixtures for the office of the Board of Public Welfare, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 40. Voted that the sum of $540.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of purchasing Combination Storm Windows for the windows in the tower of the Town Hall, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.
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ARTICLE 41. Voted that the sum of $200.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of connecting a Generator to provide emergency lighting facilities in the Town Hall, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 42. Voted that the Town accept a gift made to it during the year 1958 by Gordon B. Seavey, being the sign now standing on the Town Forest Land at the corner of Forge Village Road and Cold Spring Road and which commemorates the gift of the said land to the Town by Oscar R. Spalding and that the Town Clerk be authorized and directed to extend to Mr. Seavey the appreciation of the Town for said gift.
ARTICLE 43. Voted that the sum of $103.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of purchasing an Envelope Sealing Machine to be placed in the custody of the Board of Selectmen and to be used by var- ious Town Officers and Departments, said sum to be expended under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 44. Voted that the sum of $500.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of defraying the expenses in connection with the establishment of boundary lines of certain Parcels of Land belong- ing to the Town, situated in or near Tadmuck Swamp, devised to the Town under the wills of Oscar R. Spalding and/or Martina A. Gage, and for the purpose of defraying any and all other incidental or necessary ex- penses in connection therewith; said sum to be expended under the su- pervision of the Board of Selectmen and the Selectmen be and they here- by are authorized in the name and behalf of the Town, to do and perform all acts, execute and accept delivery of all necessary deeds or other instruments necessary or incidental to the accomplishment of the above stated purposes.
ARTICLE 45. Voted that the sum of $1,000.00 be raised and appro- priated for the purpose of purchasing a new Automobile for the Police Department, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the Board of Selectmen and that said Board be and they hereby are authorized in the name and behalf of the Town, to transfer by a good and sufficient Bill of Sale title to the newest of the automobiles now being used by said Department and apply the sum received therefrom against the pur- chase price of the new Automobile.
ARTICLE 46. Voted that the Selectmen be and hereby are author- ized to install one Street Light on Tyngsboro Road on Pole No. 76/14.
ARTICLE 47. Voted that the Selectmen be and hereby are author- ized to install one Street Light on Forge Village Road on Pole No. 303.
ARTICLE 48. Voted that the Selectmen be and hereby are author- ized to install three Street Lights on Lucille Avenue on Poles num- bered 1, 5 and 9.
ARTICLE 49. Voted that the Selectmen be and hereby are author- ized to install one Street Light on Long Sought For Pond Road on Pole No. 4.
ARTICLE 50. Voted to dismiss this Article relative to installing one Street Light on Forrest Road.
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ARTICLE 51. Voted that the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized to install one Street Light on Pine Ridge Road on Pole No. 57/8.
ARTICLE 52. Voted that the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized to install one Street Light on Pine Street on Pole No. 56/5.
ARTICLE 3. (26) Voted that the sum of $8,900.00 be raised and appropriated for Street Lights.
ARTICLE 53. Voted that, to reduce the tax rate, the sum of $30,000.00 be appropriated from Available Funds, to be deducted by the Assessors, under the provisions of Section 23 of Chapter 59 of the General Laws, as amended, from the amount to be assessed by them.
ARTICLE 54. Voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the meeting.
ARTICLE 55. Voted to dissolve the meeting.
A True Record, Attest :
Charles L. Hildreth TOWN CLERK
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING - APRIL 30, 1959
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Westford, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, held at the Town Hall, Thursday, April 30, 1959 at 8:00 P. M., the following business was transacted:
Manly P. Barber and Freda V. Prescott, Election Officers, acted as Tellers at the doors, using Voting Lists showing a total of 2,907 registered voters. As their count showed less than the two per cent required by the By-Laws for a quorum, at 8:00 P. M., the meeting was not called to order until 8:35 P. M., at which time a quorum of 59 voters was reported by the Tellers as present.
Ben W. Drew, Town Moderator, called the meeting to order at 8:35 P. M.
The total attendance of voters at the meeting was 64, as checked on the Voting Lists by the Tellers.
Voted to dispense with the reading of the Warrant.
ARTICLE 1. Voted that the sum of $1,350.00 be transferred from Unappropriated Available Funds in the Treasury and the additional sum of $750.00 be transferred from the proceeds to be received from Insur- ance on the loss by fire of an automobile owned by the Town, said total sum of $2,100.00 to be available for the purchase of a new automobile for the use of the School Nurse, said purchase to be made under the supervision of the School Committee.
ARTICLE 2. Voted that the sum of $4,000.00 be transferred from Unappropriated Available Funds in the Treasury for the purpose of de- fraying the expenses of Snow and Ice Removal for the balance of the current year.
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ARTICLE 3. Voted that the Board of Selectmen be and they hereby are authorized to appoint four additional members to the Recreation Commission established under Article 38 of the Warrant for the Annual Meeting held on March 9, 1957, said Commission henceforth to consist of seven members.
ARTICLE 4. Voted that the sum of $2,800.00 be transferred from Unappropriated Available Funds in the Treasury for the purpose of de- fraying the additional expenses of the Police Department for the bal- ance of the current year.
ARTICLE 5. Voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the meeting.
ARTICLE 6. Voted to dissolve the meeting.
A True Record, Attest :
Charles L. Hildreth TOWN CLERK
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING - JUNE 23, 1959
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Westford, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, held at the Town Hall, Tues- day, June 23, 1959. at 8:00 P. M., the following business was transact- ed:
The Town Moderator, Ben W. Drew, being absent, Charles L. Hildreth, Town Clerk, called the meeting to order at 8:15 P. M., after being in- formed by the Tellers that 100 voters were present, a quorum at this time being 58.
The Town Clerk asked for nominations from the floor of a Modera- tor pro tem.
Roger H. Hildreth was nominated, elected by hand vote and sworn in by the Town Clerk.
Roger H. Hildreth, Moderator pro tem, then called the meeting to order.
Voted unanimously to dispense with the reading of the Warrant in its entirety.
Manly P. Barber, Robert V. Cassidy, Herbert E. Farrier and Ruth A. Sundberg, election officers, acted as Tellers at the doors. The total attendance was 171.
ARTICLE 1. Voted unanimously that the Town extend its water mains and water supply system in and along the following named public ways, the size of said mains and the approximate length or distance in each case as hereinafter specified, viz., Beaver Brook Road, Four Hun- dred (400) Feet of eight (8) inch pipe; Pine Ridge Road, Three Hundred
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(300) Feet of six (6) inch pipe; the entire cost of both of said ex- tensions to be paid by the Takers to be served thereby, pursuant to the provisions of Section five, clause three of the By-Laws governing the operation of the Water Department; and, for the purposes afore- said, that the sum of Twenty Five Hundred ($2500.00) Dollars be appro- priated from the Account entitled, "Water Extension Deposits".
This Article was approved by the Finance Committee.
ARTICLE 2. A motion was made that the sum of Three Hundred Nine- ty Five Thousand ($395,000.00) Dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of constructing and originally equipping and furnishing an Elementary School Building, to be located on a certain parcel of land, containing Twenty and 02/100 (20.02) Acres, being shown on a Plan en- titled "Plan of Land in Westford, Mass., Belonging to William R. Taylor, Surveyed April 15, 1959, Richard L. McGlinchey", which Plan is recorded with Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds; and, to meet said appropriation, that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select- men and subject to the approval of the Emergency Finance Board, be and hereby is authorized and directed to borrow, at one time or from time to time, the sum of Three Hundred Ninety Five Thousand ($395,000.00) Dollars and to issue and sell, as one issue or from time to time as two or more separate issues, Serial Bonds or Notes of the Town aggre- gating Three Hundred Ninety Five Thousand ($395,000.00) Dollars in principal amount under authority of Chapter 645 of the Acts of 1948, as amended; and that each issue of said Bonds or Notes shall be issued and sold in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, as amended, shall be in such form, shall bear such date, shall mature at such times and shall bear such rates of interest as the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, shall determine, but each issue of said Bonds or Notes shall be a separate loan which shall be paid in not more than twenty (20) years from the date thereof. The School Building Committee gave a detailed Report and pictures of the proposed plans for the building were shown on a screen.
An amendment to the first motion was made "that the Town raise and appropriate, or borrow from Available Funds, the sum of $34,000.00 or some other sum, to design, build and equip a kitchen for the new Nabnasset School".
After considerable discussion this amendment was withdrawn and the following amendment was made in its place, "that the Town direct the School Building Committee to include a kitchen in the design of the new school and that the amount of $395,000.00 be eliminated from the main motion and the amount of $429,000.00 be raised and appropri- ated instead".
This amendment was defeated by a voice vote.
The main motion was then unanimously voted.
This Article was approved by the Finance Committee.
ARTICLE 3. Voted unanimously that the Committee appointed under Article 3 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting held on November 25, 1958, be and it hereby is designated a School Building Committee, and said Committee is hereby authorized and empowered, in the name and behalf of the Town, to enter into and execute all contracts, agree- ments and documents necessary, incidental, desirable, or convenient to, and in connection with the construction, equipping and furnishing of the new Elementary School Building in Nabnasset, described and voted
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in the preceding Article and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to procure all necessary or desirable professional services, technical advice, plans, data and specifications, invite all necessary bids for such proposed construction, equipping and furnishing, deter- mine the lowest responsible and eligible bidder from the bids submit- ted, execute all legal documents, contracts and agreements, approve all expenditures and vouchers for services and labor rendered and for mate- rials supplied in connection with such building.
A standing vote of thanks was given to the School Building Com- mittee for its excellent work.
ARTICLE 4. Voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the meeting.
ARTICLE 5. Voted to dissolve the meeting.
A True Record, Attest :
Charles L. Hildreth TOWN CLERK
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING - OCTOBER 6, 1959
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Westford, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, held at the Town Hall on Tuesday, October 6, 1959 at 8:00 P. M., the following business was transacted :
Ben W. Drew, Town Moderator, called the meeting to order.
Charles L. Hildreth, Town Clerk, being absent on account of ill- ness, Alice A. Hildreth, Assistant Town Clerk, served as Clerk.
Manly P. Barber, Robert V. Cassidy and Alfred J. Reeves, Election Officers, using Voting Lists, acted as Tellers at the doors.
As the Tellers reported only 40 voters present, less than the re- quired quorum of 58, it was voted to adjourn the meeting to Wednesday, October 14, 1959 at the Town Hall at 7:30 P. M.
A True Record, Attest :
A True Record, Attest :
Alice A. Hildreth Assistant Town Clerk
Charles L. Hildreth TOWN CLERK
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING - OCTOBER 14, 1959 ADJOURNED FROM OCTOBER 6, 1959
At a legal adjourned meeting of the meeting originally called for October 6, 1959, of the inhabitants of the Town of Westford, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, held at the Town Hall on Wednesday, October 14, 1959 at 7:30 P. M., the following business was transacted: Ben W. Drew, Town Moderator, called the meeting to order.
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Charles L. Hildreth, Town Clerk, being absent on account of ill- ness, Alice A. Hildreth, Assistant Town Clerk, served as Clerk. Manly P. Barber and Robert V. Cassidy, Election Officers, using Voting Lists, acted as Tellers at the doors.
The Tellers reported 80 voters present which was more than a quo- rum.
ARTICLE 1. Voted unanimously that the Town extend its water mains and water supply system in and along a public way known as Plain Road in Nabnasset, said mains to be ten (10) inches in diameter and to extend in a general Westerly direction a distance of approximately Six Hundred (600) Feet from the end of the mains now locatdd in said Road to the general vicinity of the new Elementary School to be constructed in Nabnasset and, for the purpose aforesaid, that the sum of Three Thousand Five Hundred ($3,500.00) Dollars be appropriated from the Surplus. Revenue of the Water Department.
The motion for this vote was approved by the Finance Committee.
ARTICLE 2. Voted unanimously that the sum of Four Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty Seven and 46/100 ($4,957.46) Dollars be transferred from the Account entitled "Special Police" to the Account entitled "Police Department".
The motion for this vote was approved by the Finance Committee.
Voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the meeting. Voted to dissolve the meeting.
A True Record, Attest:
A True Record, Attest:
Alice A. Hildreth Assistant Town Clerk
Charles L. Hildreth TOWN CLERK
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING - OCTOBER 14, 1959
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Westford, qualified by law to vote in Town affairs, held at the Town Hall on Wednesday, October 14, 1959 at 8:00 P. M., the following business was transacted :
Ben W. Drew, Town Moderator, called the meeting to order.
Charles L. Hildreth, Town Clerk, being absent on account of ill- ness, Alice A. Hildreth, Assistant Town Clerk, acted as Clerk.
Manly P. Barber and Robert V. Cassidy, Election Officers, using Voting Lists, served as Tellers at the doors.
The Tellers reported 85 voters present which was more than a quo- rum.
ARTICLE 1. Voted unanimously that the sum of Forty Thousand ($40,000.00) Dollars be raised and appropriated for the purpose of constructing and originally equipping and furnishing an Elementary
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School Building to be located on a certain parcel of land situated on the Southerly side of Plain Road in Nabnasset, said parcel being shown on a Plan entitled "Plan of Land in Westford, Mass., Belonging to William R. Taylor, surveyed April 15, 1959, Richard L. McGlinchey", which Plan is recorded with Middlesex North District Registry of Deeds, Plan Book 91, Plan 90, said sum to be in addition to and to be added to the sum of Three Hundred Ninety Five Thousand ($395,000.00) Dollars appropriated for said purpose under Article 2 of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting held June 23, 1959 and, to meet said appropriation that the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen and subject to the approval of the Emergency Finance Board, be and hereby is author- ized and directed to borrow, at one time or from time to time, the sum of Forty Thousand ($40,000.00) Dollars and to issue and sell, as one issue or from time to time as two or more separate issues, Serial Bonds or Notes of the Town aggregating Forty Thousand ($40,000.00) Dollars in principal amount under authority of Chapter 645 of the Acts of 1948, as amended. and that each issue of said Bonds or Notes shall be issued and sold in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, as amended, shall be in such form. shall bear such dates, shall mature at such times and shall bear such rates of interest as the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, shall determine, but each issue of said Bonds or Notes shall be a separate loan which shall be paid in not more than twenty (20) years from the date thereof. The motion for this vote was approved by the Finance Committee.
Voted to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the meeting. Voted to dissolve the meeting.
A True Record, Attest :
A True Record, Attest :
Alice A. Hildreth Assistant Town Clerk
Charles L. Hildreth TOWN CLERK
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REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board of Selectmen organized on March 3, 1959 - John J. Kavanagh was elected Chairman and Horace F. Wyman as Secretary.
Reports submitted by all Departments, Committees and individuals, under the jurisdiction of the Selectmen, appear elsewhere in the Town Report.
The books of the Town were not examined by State Auditors during 1959. The latest audit was made during October and November of 1958.
During 1959 the construction of new Route 110 (Interstate Route 495) presented many problems for the Town and the Selectmen - it con- tinues to do so. Such construction will block Providence, Elliott and Howard Roads. Tadmuck, Boston and Concord Roads will be passed under the new Route. Access to the new Route will be provided at Boston Road and from Chamberlin Road by means of a frontage road to the Hunt Road (Chelmsford) underpass.
The Selectmen gave their full support to a petition designed to keep open Providence Road or, failing that, to secure a connecting road from Providence Road to Boston Road. Letters, maps and copies of said petition were sent to State Senator Francis L. Lappin, State Representative Vernon R. Fletcher, Federal Representative Edith Nourse Rogers and Anthony N. DiNatale, Commissioner of the State De- partment of Public Works. Despite this presentation, the Selectmen were advised that the Federal Bureau of Public Roads had refused to reconsider. The Selectmen then asked Mrs. Rogers to press for recon- sideration but were later informed by her that the Bureau had given its final "definite refusal".
The construction of the new road, particularly in numerous swampy areas, has given unusual importance to gravel and soil for fills. In issuing Earth Removal Permits the Selectmen have scrupu- lously enforced the Town's Earth Removal By-Law and have guarded against unsightly cuts and excavations. Performance bonds are gen- erally required.
The Selectmen requested and received assurance from the State Department of Public Works that Town roads injured by construction activities will be restored to good condition and that on dead-end roads, such as Providence Road, turn-arounds will be provided, all at no cost to the Town.
George T. Sullivan, appointed Permanent Patrolman on December 28, 1958, resigned. He was reappointed Permanent Patrolman, from the Civil Service List, on September 8, 1959. John F. Sullivan, Jr., was appointed Permanent Patrolman, from the Civil Service List, on March 3, 1959.
During the year 1959 the Selectmen issued 159 Building Permits, charging as fees therefor $2.00 or $3.00, depending upon the type and size of construction. The total amount of fees received was $386.00. The cost of issuing Permits was $228.00. Permit #2 was not issued.
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Said Permits were classified as follows: Houses 58; Alterations 2;
Office Buildings 1; Garages 12; Cutting Shed 1; Saw Shed 1;
Additions 51; Cottages 4; Business Buildings 4; Sheds 3; Breezeways and Garages 14; Storage Buildings 2;
Carport 1;
Henhouse 1; Farm Building 1; Replacement 1; Accessory Build-
ings 2.
John J. Kavanagh, Chairman Horace F. Wyman Edward F. Harrington BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS 1
On May 4, 1959 the appointed members held a meeting and William E. Wright was elected Chairman. The other two members are Everett A. Scott and John J. Barretto. John P. McDermott and Denis Maguire serve as Alternates.
The general policy was to have a Public Hearing about once a month with as many Appeals as were available at the time. There were eleven Hearings with twenty three Appeals. One Appeal was refused.
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